Teacher Resources

Welcome to the Teacher Resources section of Windows to the Universe, where we try to collect resources of our own, as well as of partner organizations that we think you will be interested in. We regularly update this section with information about our web seminars, workshops and new classroom activities. We also provide links, below to several of our key resources, including motivational quotes, Earth science literacy frameworks, materials from our professional development workshops, our Teacher Opportunities calendar (Members Only), and a link to our free monthly Earth and Space Science Educator Newsletter. Windows to the Universe and its educational resources have been reviewed by NASA's Office of Space Sciences and Earth Science Enterprise, receiving exemplary status.

Teachers - Become an Educator Member of Windows to the Universe for special benefits and opportunities, including information about valuable special offers for classroom grants, professional development with travel and/or stipends, research grants, and more!

Windows to the Universe is now offering on-site professional development workshops for teachers. Find out more about this opportunity here. Information about our upcoming workshops and events at the NSTA conference in Indianapolis is available under 2012 on our Teacher Resources/Workshops page.

Looking for a way to organize your course materials?  Windows to the Universe is now offering course support to K-12 teachers including hosted course pages, course calenders, student quizzes, and homework download/upload capability.  Visit our <a href="http://www.windows2universe.org/membership.html">membership page</a> for more information!  Windows to the Universe is a project of the <a href="http://www.nestanet.org">National Earth Science Teachers Association</a>.<p><small><em>Windows to the Universe </em></small></p>Our <a href="/teacher_resources/teach_co2spew.html&edu=elem&dev=">CO2: How Much Do You Spew?</a> activity lets students calculate annual CO2 emissions for different hypothetical families with different lifestyles.  The activity is available in our <a href="/php/teacher_resources/activity.php#6">Classroom Activities section</a>, including a free html version and a pdf version free for <a href="/new_membership_services.html&edu=elem&dev=">Windows to the Universe members</a>. <a href="/store/product.php?productid=243&cat=27&page=1">CO2: How Much Do You Spew? Classroom Activity Kits</a> are available in our <a href="/store/home.php">online store</a>, including the activity description, student worksheet, and ten laminated family scenarios.<p><small><em></em></small></p>As we remember the 11 March 2011 earthquake and tsunami this week, teachers should remember that they can make a very big difference, with the lessons they teach.  <a href="/teacher_resources/AGU-NESTA_GIFT/2011/Preller/lessons-save-life-hr.wmv">This video</a> tells the story of Tilly, who put her geography lessons into action and saved many lives in Puket, Thailand in 2004.  We have a great set of free tsunami resources and activities for teachers <a href="/teacher_resources/2011_AGU-NESTA_GIFT_Workshop.html&edu=elem&dev=">here</a>.<p><small><em></em></small></p>Our <a href="/teacher_resources/nitrogen_main.html&edu=elem&dev=">Traveling Nitrogen Game</a> makes a fun activity for students to learn about the <a href="/earth/Life/nitrogen_cycle.html&edu=elem&dev=">nitrogen cycle</a>.  The activity includes a student worksheet ("Traveling Nitrogen Passport"), 11 reservoir signs, and stamps.  The activity is available in our <a href="/php/teacher_resources/activity.php#8">Classroom Activities section</a>, including a free html version, and a pdf version free for  <a href="/new_membership_services.html&edu=elem&dev=">Windows to the Universe subscribers</a>.  The Traveling Nitrogen Game Kit is available in our <a href="/store/home.php">online store</a>, including laminated signs and a set of 11 dice.<p><small><em></em></small></p>Does Earth science matter?  The power outage experienced by residents in New York City on 10/30/2012 due to Hurricane Sandy demonstrates the interconnectedness of our society, and the power of the Earth system.  Every person should have an understanding of how the Earth system works so they can live better lives, protect those they love, and make wise choices.  Earth science education is critical!<p><small><em>Image courtesy of Hybirdd, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.</em></small></p>Teachers participating in one of our workshops at the NSTA National Conference 
on Science Education. Our workshops typically include numerous hands-on 
activities, to give participants a chance to get real experience with our 
materials.<p><small><em>Image courtesy of Windows to the Universe</em></small></p>

Windows to the Universe, a project of the National Earth Science Teachers Association, is sponsored in part is sponsored in part through grants from federal agencies (NASA and NOAA), and partnerships with affiliated organizations, including the American Geophysical Union, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Earth System Information Partnership, the American Meteorological Society, the National Center for Science Education, and TERC. The American Geophysical Union and the American Geosciences Institute are Windows to the Universe Founding Partners. NESTA welcomes new Institutional Affiliates in support of our ongoing programs, as well as collaborations on new projects. Contact NESTA for more information. NASA ESIP NCSE HHMI AGU AGI AMS NOAA